Like his Michigan State counterpart, Mason is hot head-coaching material

Both of the Rose Bowl’s defensive coordinators, Derek Mason of Stanford and Pat Narduzzi of Michigan State, have been pursued by schools looking to fill head coaching vacancies. Connecticut, for instance, went after both of them recently.

Narduzzi, who won the Frank Broyles Award as the top assistant in college football this year, turned down the Huskies but reportedly landed a better contract at Michigan State as a result. His defense was the best in the nation this year.

Mason also turned down UConn, he said Saturday, because “I’ve got the best job in college football.” That said, he still wants to be a head coach. He said he’ll decide with his family when the time is right for him to leave Stanford.

He became co-defensive coordinator with Jason Tarver in 2011 after Vic Fangio went to the 49ers with head coach Jim Harbaugh. Tarver left for the Raiders the following year, and Mason became fully in charge of the defense. The Cardinal have been Pac-12 champions ever since.